There is something deeply meditative about the rhythm of a temperature blanket. Picture a quiet evening, a small batch of yarn in your favorite hues, and the gentle click of the hook. As you count stitches and settle into the relaxing repeat of the pattern, you aren’t just making a blanket; you are stitching the seasons, day by day. This project captures a year of weather in a cozy, throw-sized afghan that is perfect for curling up with.
Small Details That Make It Better
What makes this specific design so special is how it solves the common sizing issues of other temperature blankets. Instead of a long, awkward strip, this pattern uses a hexagonal grid to create a balanced throw that measures a manageable 49” x 64”. The design features straight edges on the top and bottom with beautiful scalloped sides, achieved by using half-hexagons for the first and last rows. I love that you can record both the high and low temperatures for each day within a single motif, giving you a rich tapestry of your year. The join-as-you-go method creates a seamless fabric, and the lack of a border allows those scalloped edges to shine, though you can easily add one if you prefer a finished edge.
Project Overview
This throw-sized afghan features motifs (hexagons or half-hexagons) where each motif represents one day of the year. There are two layouts provided: one for a standard 365-day year and one for a 366-day leap year. There are no “extra” motifs needed to fill in; the 365-day layout has exactly 365 motifs and the 366-day layout has exactly 366 motifs. The afghan is comprised mostly of hexagons, with the very first and last rows made of half hexagons. This results in an afghan with straight edges on the top and bottom and scalloped edges along each side.
Hexagons are joined using a join-as-you-go method working from the top down, and left to right. You may work your afghan on a calendar year starting with January 1 or a milestone year such as a birth, marriage, or retirement year instead. Each hexagon starts as a 2-round motif. Round one is for the low temperature of the day. Round two is for the high temperature of the day. Alternatively, you may choose to only record one temperature (usually the high temperature) each day and thus both round 1 and round 2 would be worked in the same color.
Materials
- Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland, size 4 worsted weight, 100% acrylic, 251 yds/230m per 5oz/142g skein (try Herrschners, Amazon, or Lion Brand).
- Background Color: 9.5 Skeins Acadia (Ivory) [approximately 2,380 yards total].
- Accent Colors: 1 or more skeins for each color. Quantity needed will vary based on weather. I used the following colors: Olympic, Carlsbad Caverns, Glacier Bay, Voyageurs, Congaree, Rocky Mountains, Haleakala, Bryce Canyon, Gateway Arch, Yosemite, Badlands, and New River Gorge.
- Hook: US G+7/4.50 mm crochet hook.
- Notions: Stitch markers to keep track of rows, tapestry needle, and scissors.
Gauge and Finished Size
The inner circle (rounds 1-2) of the hexagon measures 2.25” in diameter. However, gauge is not imperative in this pattern. A slightly thicker worsted weight yarn may measure slightly bigger. The finished afghan measures 49” x 64”. We all crochet differently from one another and even day to day. If we are having a stressful day, our work might be tighter vs a very relaxing day. You may find that your gauge is not exactly like the author’s gauge. You might even find that not all of your circle motifs (rounds 1 & 2) match each other. This is ok. The pattern is very forgiving for these slight variances.
Abbreviations
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch(es)
Pattern Notes
Planning Your Afghan: Start by creating a temperature chart. I live in the U.S. where we record temperature by Fahrenheit. I recorded my temperatures in increments of 10. At the low end, was anything lower than 0 degrees. At the top end, was anything higher than 100 degrees. This gave me 12 colorways. However, depending upon the year and your climate what you end up using might be different than planned. For instance, when I made my blanket, we never had a day that hit 100 degrees or higher so I never used my planned “highest” temperature color! Timeanddate.com is an excellent website for finding the high and low temperatures for each day because the site enables going back to earlier dates.
Yarn Quantity: You also might find that you use more than 1 skein for a particular color if your climate loves to live in that temperature zone. This can be a challenge at the start since most of us do not want to over-buy yarn. Since this blanket is worked in hexagon motifs, a dye lot difference will not be noticeable in the project if you find you need to purchase an additional skein later. Before purchasing yarn for the main background color (especially if you using a different yarn or have a different gauge), work a test hexagon with your chosen yarn. Leave a 6” tail before starting round 3 and leave a 6” tail at the end of round 3. Unravel the yarn used for round 3 and measure it. Times this by 365 (or 366) days to get the total quantity of yarn you need. Add a little bit to this for error and purchase THAT quantity for your background color.
Assembly: It’s important to understand how you will be crocheting and assembling the first few rows before you start your first motifs. The bulk of the afghan is joined with the Join-As-You-Go method, one hexagon at a time. However, the first 3 rows are joined a bit differently. Technically the only time you are working a full 3-round hexagon without joining to anything is the first hexagon of row 2 (see above). This would be day 9 in a 365-day year or day 10 in a 366-day leap year. If you know the temperatures for that day, go ahead and make your practice hexagon in those colors. Otherwise, just make a practice hexagon so you understand the process.
Finishing: This hexagon style afghan creates a lot of ends that need to be woven in. Here is how I handle that: I weave in the ends from R1 and R2 as I work the hexagons and half hexagons. After I join a row or two, I go back and weave in the ends. For my afghan, I decided to leave it as is, with NO border. Here’s why: I really like the look of the scalloped side edges that form as the hexagons are joined. I also like the half hexagons at the top and I felt that a row of the cream color on top of that would disrupt that. However, you may feel differently.
Pattern Instructions
Special Stitches
This project uses cluster stitches that are worked similarly.
- 2dcc (2 double crochet cluster): *yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through first 2 loops on hook*. Repeat from * to * once in same st. There are now 3 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
- 3dcc (3 double crochet cluster): *yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through first 2 loops on hook*. Repeat from * to * two more times in same st. There are now 4 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook.
Crochet Hexagon
Round 1: With first color, make a magic ring. Work all in the magic ring: Ch 2, (2dcc, ch 1), [(3dcc, ch 1)] 5 times. Sl st to top of starting ch-2 to join. Fasten off 1 st color. (6 clusters)
Round 2: With 2nd color, sl st to a ch-1 space, then ch 2, (2dcc, ch 2, 3dcc, ch 2) in the same space, (3dcc, ch 2, 3dcc, ch 2) in each remaining ch-1 space around. Sl st to top of starting ch-2 to join. Fasten off. (6 sets of 2 clusters)
Round 3: With main yarn color, sl st to a ch-1 space (this will be between a cluster set), then [ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc, ch 2, 2dc (corner made)] in same sp as join, 3dc in next space, *(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in next space, 3 dc in next space. Repeat from * around. Join with slip stitch to top of starting ch-3. Fasten off, leaving a long strand for joining.
Crochet Half Hexagon
Round 1: With first color, make a magic ring. Work all in the magic ring: Ch 4, [(3dcc, ch 1)] 3 times, then dc. Do not join. Pull magic ring closed but keep work in a half circle/crescent shape. Fasten off. (6 clusters)
Round 2: Join color 2 to the space between the ch-4 and first 3dcc of the prior row. Then, (ch 3, dc, ch 2) in same space, (3dcc, ch 2, 3dcc, ch 2) in each of the next 2 ch-1 spaces, then work 2dc in the last ch-1 space. Fasten off.
Assembly
Follow the diagram for the afghan (365-day or 366-day layout) to determine where to join hexagons. The tutorial shows how to work a join on 3 sides. However, you may only be joining on 2 sides, depending on the location of the hexagon in the blanket.
Step 1: Row 1 represents the first days of the year. Crochet half hexagons for these first days, set them aside until step 4 and keep them in order. For a 365-day year you will have 8 half hexagons in row 1. (For a 366-day year you will have 9 half hexagons).
Step 2: The very 1st hexagon in row 2 is the only hexagon that is worked with all 3 rounds without joining to another one. The rest of the hexagons work round 3 in the joining process. Work the first hexagon of row 2 (all 3 rounds). Then work rounds 1-2 for the remaining hexagons in row 2. Set these aside and keep them in order. There are 9 hexagons (365-day layout) or 8 hexagons (366-day layout) in row 2.
Step 3: In Row 3 we start joining as we go. Note that you are ONLY joining Row 3 hexagons to row 2. (The half hexagons from row one are joined in step 4.)
Step 4: Next join the row 1 half hexagons into place above row 2, using the join-as-you go method. You will attach on 3 sides to hexagons in rows 2 and 3.
Step 5: From here on out, crochet rounds 1 & 2 following the hexagon pattern for each day and then crochet round 3, joining as you go to the surrounding hexagons in the space created by the prior row. The rows alternate between 8 and 9 hexagons each. You may find it helpful to use stitch markers to mark the starting point for joining a daily hexagon to the afghan.
Step 6: The final row of the afghan is in half hexagons and joined the same way as in Step 4.
How To Join A Hexagon As You Go
Using the hexagon round 3 directions, work the first 2 sides of hexagon, starting with the first corner then working the first side and second corner. When you come to the 3rd corner, work 2dc and chain 1. Take your hook out of your work and re-insert it into the corner of the hexagon on the blanket. Pull the loop through the corner and chain 1. Work the remaining 2 dc in the corner of the new hexagon. Remove hook and pull loop through the space between the last 2 dc of the corner and 3 dc on the corresponding hexagon. (Do NOT chain). Work 3 dc in the next space on the new hexagon. Similarly, remove the hook, pull through the next space on the hexagon on the blanket. Then work 2 dc and ch 1 for the next corner on the new hexagon. The next joining point connects 3 corners: the corner on the new hexagon and 2 corners on the blanket. Remove hook and insert hook into the 2 corners of the blanket hexagons and pull the loop through and chain 1. Continue to work around in the established pattern to attach the hexagon to the adjoining hexagons, working 3dc stitches on the sides with 3dc stitches (with no additional chains at the connecting point) and the corners by working half the corner and a chain 1, then dropping the hook and pulling through the corresponding corner, and making the 2nd chain before working the other half of the corner on the new hexagon. When all the sides that connect are joined, work the remainder of R3 on the new hexagon as directed in the pattern, joining at the end with a slip stitch to the top of the starting ch-3.
How to Join a Half Hexagon As You Go
Half hexagons are joined similarly to hexagons. Remember the only rows that are comprised of half hexagons are row 1 and the final row. The first row of half hexagons will be attached after rows 2 and 3 are joined. Join yarn with a slip stitch to the corresponding outside corner of hex at end of row on blanket. Work 2dc in between the first 2 dc on the half hexagon. This represents half of a corner. Remove hook and pull loop through the space between the last 2 dc of the corner and 3 dc on the corresponding hexagon. (Do NOT chain). Continue to join as you go in a similar manner as joining a full hexagon, making sure to attach 3 corners together when joining to 2 hexagons. To finish, work 2 dc between the 2dc on the half hexagon. Then drop the hook and pull through the corner space on the blanket and slip stitch to join. Fasten off.
Tips
If you’d like to work a row or two of single crochet around, take care to evenly space single crochet stitches across the top and bottom of your blanket, checking every few stitches to make sure the blanket is not ruffling from too many stitches or pulling in from two few stitches. On the scalloped edge, work 2 stitches into each hexagon point and decrease 2 stitches over every spot where the 2 hexagons meet. If you do decide to do a border, you will need additional yarn as that is not included in the materials given. This project is a wonderful companion to other cozy home projects, much like the ideas found in our easy crochet blanket ideas.
FAQs
Can I use a different yarn weight?
Yes, but the finished size will change. If you use a slightly thicker worsted weight yarn, your overall afghan might turn out bigger, but it will still be an appropriately nice sized throw. Always work a test hexagon to check your gauge.
Do I have to record both high and low temperatures?
No. Each hexagon starts as a 2-round motif. Round one is for the low temperature and round two is for the high temperature. Alternatively, you may choose to only record one temperature (usually the high temperature) each day and thus both round 1 and round 2 would be worked in the same color.
How do I calculate how much background yarn I need?
Work a test hexagon with your chosen yarn. Leave a 6” tail before starting round 3 and leave a 6” tail at the end of round 3. Unravel the yarn used for round 3 and measure it. Times this by 365 (or 366) days to get the total quantity of yarn you need. Add a little bit to this for error and purchase THAT quantity for your background color.
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
The individual hexagons are easy, but the join-as-you-go method and keeping track of the layout can be challenging. It is highly recommended to make a practice hexagon of the 3 full rounds so you understand the process before moving on to working half hexagons or the join-as-you-go process.
Can I add a border?
The pattern does not have a border. Should you wish to add one, this will require more yarn. You can work a row or two of single crochet around, taking care to evenly space stitches to prevent ruffling.
If you are looking for more inspiration, you might also enjoy exploring easy fathers day crochet gifts for your next handmade project.
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